IHS Issues Call for NHDI Volunteer Judges

INDIANAPOLIS—It’s that time of year! The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is issuing a call for volunteers to help students express creativity through history. Judges are needed for the 2019 National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) contests.

NHDI is a yearlong program in which students in grades 4 through 12 research a historical topic of their choosing and create projects in the form of documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances and websites. This year’s theme is “Triumph & Tragedy in History.”

At each regional contest, judges work in teams to interview students about their project, give feedback, and ultimately, rank winners. Regional winners advance to the state contest, where the top two entries from each junior and senior category become eligible to compete in June at the National Contest for National History Day (NHD).

“There’s something about the way the students look when they finish judging,” said Bethany Hrachovec, IHS coordinator for learning and NHDI. “They go ‘I did that. And they listened to me. And they valued what I had to say.’ That feeling is more than anyone could describe.”

No experience is necessary to serve as a judge. Approximate time commitment is 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the day of the contest. Teachers who volunteer as judges are eligible for Professional Growth Points (PGPs) from IHS.

Volunteers are needed at six NHDI regional contests in Fort Wayne (Feb. 16), Notre Dame (Feb. 23), Carmel (March 2), Evansville (March 5), Franklin (March 9) and Hanover (March 16). In addition, IHS is seeking judges for the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) district contest, which takes place at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center on March 13, and for the state competition, which takes place at the University of Indianapolis on April 13.

NHDI is presented by the Indiana National Guard, The Richard W. and Irene Rooker Family Foundation, TCU Foundation and the Vigran Family Foundation. To register as a volunteer judge, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call (317) 232-1882.